Acquitted Teacher to Settle With O.C.

Orange County supervisors Tuesday approved settling their portion of a lawsuit brought by a former Santa Ana elementary school teacher who was jailed and beaten before being acquitted of child molestation charges.

Jerome Wilhoit, 43, of Aliso Viejo sued Santa Ana for false arrest and Orange County for failing to protect him from being beaten. The Board of Supervisors agreed to pay him $350,000; settlement talks with Santa Ana are continuing.

County officials declined to comment on the amount.

Wilhoit said he expected to receive $150,000 from Santa Ana. Officials there did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Wilhoit was charged in 1998 with sexually molesting three students at Wallace R. Davis Elementary School. Within 12 hours of his incarceration, he was beaten by four inmates at Orange County Jail, where he spent 3 1/2 weeks.

Wilhoit taught a combination second- and third-grade class at the time of his arrest in May 1998. He was accused of whisking a girl off her feet and blowing on her stomach, and kissing another girl on the mouth and massaging her back. A third girl said he touched her inappropriately.

A jury acquitted Wilhoit in 1999. Fourteen months later he was further exonerated when an Orange County judge declared Wilhoit “factually innocent” of all charges and ordered all records expunged.

“It’s just wonderful to see justice served and to kind of be able to close this chapter of life. The money is an important part of the vindication process,” said Wilhoit, who is now a clergyman and private music teacher.

During the trial, Wilhoit -- who was vice president of the PTA -- received support from many parents and students.

He said the ordeal changed how he interacts with children.

“I used to be a really affectionate and affirming person,” he said. “Now I’m scared to be around kids, to touch them or be around them in private.”

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Times staff writer Sara Lin contributed to this report.